ANAHEIM center Mason McTavish celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Nashville Predators during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

By Pete Zarustica/Orange County Tribune with wire service reports

It may be just three-in-a-row, but the prospects are looking rosier for the orange-and-black.

The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Seattle Kraken 6-4 at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday to improve their record to 21-23-6, good for sixth place in the NHL Western Conference.

Combined with Saturday’s 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators (and a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins last Thursday) the Ducks are continuing to improve on last season’s forgettable campaign.

Against the Kraken, six different players lit the red lamp, including Frank Vatrano, Cutter Gauthuer, Robby Fabbri, Mason McTavish and Jackson LaCombe.  Ryan Strome had two assists.

Lukas Dostal had 26 saves in goal, replacing John Gibson who was injured.

The Ducks trailed 3-2 after one period, but outscored the home team 4-1 the rest of the way.

On Saturday, Mason McTavish had two goals for the second straight game, Jansen Harkins and Trevor Zegras scored 62 seconds apart in the second period and the Ducks beat Nashville to snap the Predators’ five-game winning streak.

McTavish has scored five of his 11 goals this season in the last three games. He missed out on his first career hat trick when his shot at the Predators empty net in the final seconds was wide right.

Zegras, who also had an assist, has three points in three games (one goal, two assists) after missing 22 games following surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Pavel Mintyukov also scored for the Ducks. Lukas Dostal was in net for the final two periods and stopped 31 shots. John Gibson suffered an upper-body injury and came out after making nine saves and allowing one goal in the first period.
Gustav Nyquist and Ryan O’Reilly scored while Filip Forsberg had two assists for the Predators. Juuse Saros made 30 saves.